Window material choices depend on climate. If there is a home show before you are making decisions those are good places to ask questions about windows for your local area. Competitors will tout their brand over the competition, highlighting factors that matter locally.
The house is was built in 2002 and built cheaply It seems. So no worries about replacing craftsmanship
I’m disappointed in our Anderson windows. The independent glass guy was really surprised so many Anderson’s in the house failed like this. I’m torn whether we should replace them with Anderson glass or will any glass with high efficiency work.
Sadly my almost 100 year old house had it’s windows replaced with aluminums - the only original windows are casements in the attic. They are each half a round casement - not easily replaced.
My house had true divided light windows (6 over 6) with aluminum storm windows. The glazing on virtually every pane was failing, so I was faced with chipping out/replacing/painting the glazing on something like 200 individual panes of glass. So not happening.
After a lot of research, I put Marvin Infinity windows in my house.
These are fiberglass, and because fiberglass is so much more rigid and stronger then vinyl, the stiles and rails are the same size as wood windows - IOW, you don’t lose an inch+ all around. My windows are smallish, and vinyl windows would have reduced the glass area by around 15%, which is a huge amount.
The one drawback - no triple pane option. Don’t know if this is still the case. Don’t know if impact glass is an option either.
Very happy with them after 8 years or so.
If you have condensation between the panes, you may have other options than replacing the entire window. On some windows you can replace just the glass unit. You may be able to replace the entire sash, depending on the make of the window. And as a last resort, you can get a dill bit made for glass, and drill a tiny hole on the inside at the bottom and top of each glass unit with condensation. This will allow the moisture to evaporate. Unfortunately you can’t clean between the panes, but a dirty window is better than one you can’t see out of at all.
Thanks all!
Also some of the window sills are chewed by the previous owners dog (she hid them with plants and furniture when we were looking at the house)
I wonder if it matters when we replace the sills? If we need to do the glass first ? or vice versa?
It depends. If your window is ok, then only the glass needs to be replaced. The sill can be replaced later. If your entire window needs to be ripped out, then the sill can be a part of the job.
As far as concealment goes, the duty is on the buyer to inspect everything. If a defect is of a kind that should have been easily discovered (discoloration under a rug, blemish on a wall, recorded easement, etc. ), it is the buyers’ fault that they were not diligent. In my state, unless there was an active fraud involving hiding a big structural defect, tough luck suing the sellers.
Did I imply I was thinking of suing? I just don’t like her very much because I think she is sneaky - not criminal.
Depending on how everything was put together, replacing a sill can be a major undertaking. If it is integral to the frame, it may be difficult or nearly impossible to get out without doing major damage to the surrounding walls and woodwork.
How badly are they chewed up? Unless large pieces have been torn off, you may be able to use wood filler (or even joint compound) to fill in the chew marks, then sand and paint. If you do a neat job no one will ever know it was repaired.
If there is more severe damage you may be able to just cut out the damaged wood and splice in a new piece to replace the damaged part. This is a level up in woodworking skill, but if you are handy and have the right tools it’s not too difficult.
I am not implying that, just saying that there is nothing sneaky about that. 
Have you considered windowsills made of some material like quartz? We put a quartz windowsill in the kitchen window and love it! My plant pots can leak on it as much as they want.
I think it was sneaky -but my judgement is clouded by several other things she did . Including not getting her mail forwarded -who does that???
Quartz sounds very pretty -off to google
Thanks all!
We used to get frequent bills for porn sites for what was obviously the fake name of the male half of the couple who lived in our house before us. Thanks. Not. The worst was when some bill collector decided he need to take something to the front door damaging the paint.
We had what appeared to be condensation in one window in our 10 yr old addition. It’s cause is a broken sash. Contractor called manufacturer (Harvey) and they replaced whole window (guaranteed for life.)
Before we did the addition I replaced every window in my house (the whole window not just the inside) with wood windows, which is what we already had, vinyl cad on outside for easy maintenance. They still look beautiful. It cost 10k for 7 standard windows, a small bathroom window and a huge bay window - that alone was $5k.
I did vinyl in my addition and I love them.
Not sneaky to put plants in front of flaws. When selling you want to minimize flaws. Our last house had tiny bite marks on the edge of the French door sliders in the kitchen. Our Shih Tzu puppy couldn’t even see out of that low glass! We had a few Pella windows on the south side of that brick house that were difficult to open/close tightly. I figured a buyer would request replacements (didn’t do because of the pain of restaining sills…). The buyer was fixated on the roof and wasted his ten days on that (no concessions from us) instead of getting any other minor stuff done on our dime.
You have to look at a house as a used one, it will not be the same as when it was brand new. Things wear out. You decide if the overall package is worthwhile to you.
Again, if you choose to replace your windows consider the details. Look at how they latch, open, screens- the things that could annoy you on a daily basis.
We replaced 12 windows in our 200 year old house (this was 2 houses ago!) with Pella windows and never regretted it. They matched our antique windows perfectly, except that they didn’t leak!
I would have fixed them -but I guess maybe I should have just not fixed things when we sold and let them find it.
Like I said -if it had been the only thing she had done including saying would do certain things in the contract and then not doing them until we had the house reinspected etc… And getting packages delivered here for months - I probably would see it differently.
It is not something I would do -try to hide something that is broken. But I guess it is normal practice
@eyemamom Did you get your Andersen windows from them, or from Home Depot?
It was my understanding that Andersen makes a cheaper window for Home Depot that sells for less under the same name. I think the same thing is true of a number of manufacturers of fixtures. There is a reason why they cost less there, and it’s not all volume.
From what I’ve heard, Renewal by Andersen is a low quality stuff.
We had a Renewal guy come out, the sales pressure was off the charts and the windows are stupidly expensive. And I don’t think the windows are that great either.
The Marvin Infinity’s were much better, and half the price.